Mongolian sumo champion Asashoryu has announced his retirement following allegations he attacked a man outside a Tokyo nightclub last month."I feel heavy responsibility that I have caused trouble to so many people, Asashoryu said. The wrestler's stable master said he could not remember what happened on the night because he was too drunk. Asashoryu, the first Mongolian to become champion, has been described as the "bad boy" of sumo for his conduct.
Mongolian sumo champion Asashoryu has announced his retirement following allegations he attacked a man outside a Tokyo nightclub last month.
"I feel heavy responsibility that I have caused trouble to so many people, Asashoryu said.
The wrestler's stable master said he could not remember what happened on the night because he was too drunk.
Asashoryu, the first Mongolian to become champion, has been described as the "bad boy" of sumo for his conduct.
Asashoryu is like a classic box star, an impulsive man who just can't keep himself out of trouble. All his outside-the-ring scandals are rather minor issues by Western celeb scandal standards (including stuff like wearing a suit in place of kimono on a public event or playing golf!), but with them he's always given food to Japanese traditionalist critics. It seems he always thought that the large number of his fans will count stronger than the criticism against him, but this time it looked bad for him.
I was more annoyed by his antics inside the ring, though: the extra shoves after he already won. Those had their psychological effect in the next meetup only as long as he didn't start to consistently lose against some stronger opponents -- like the other yokozuna, Hakuho (also a Mongolian), whom he could only beat in playoffs lately. Now that he won his 25th tournament in January (which made him all-time third), so he probably had less motivation to fight on, too. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
"I always hear the term hinkaku from everyone, but to be completely honest, when I climbed on top of that dohyo, I become a monster. I just always felt that I had to go at it as hard as possible. I was the type of person that you had never seen before, and the result was a lot of controversy for everyone."
(Hinkaku is the sumo equivalent of gentlemanliness.) *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
(04/02) Yokozuna council's strong push behind Asashoryu retirement
Makiko Uchidate, an outspoken critic of Asashoryu who recently ended 10 years of service on the yokuzuna council, said, "We were called staunch enemies, but I am relieved that he made this decision. In the future, whether it is in Japan or another foreign country, I would like Asashoryu never to forget to show respect. He lacked respect toward Japan, sumo and his work. If he can learn this he will be praised again."
Ugh. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
